Caulfield Guineas Day has always been one of my favourite meetings on the Australian racing calendar.
Every year when Guineas week rolls around, I find myself going back through the great editions of the race. I first put together this list last year and, after another Guineas has been run and won, I’ve looked at it again. The top five hasn’t changed.
The Caulfield Cup might be the headline act of the MRC carnival, but Guineas Day has traditionally been the meeting with incredible depth from top to bottom. And the Guineas itself has produced some unforgettable contests and launched the careers of some outstanding horses.
It would be disingenuous for me to start reaching back 50 or 60 years given my age, so this isn’t an attempt to rank the greatest Caulfield Guineas of all time. These are simply the five that stick most strongly in my mind.
And after another year of consideration, I still can’t find room for Whobegotyou!
Here are my top five Caulfield Guineas.
1999 – Redoute’s Choice beat Testa Rossa
The rivalry between these two gallopers was one for the ages. It began with their first meeting in the 1999 Blue Diamond, when Redoute’s Choice won the prized two-year-old feature at just his second start, backing up only a week after his debut.
The competition intensified when the pair tackled the older horses in the Vic Health Cup (now the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes), where Testa Rossa took the spoils.
Come Caulfield Guineas Day, Redoute’s Choice was sent out a 10/9 favourite, while Testa Rossa eased from 2/1 to 5/2 late in betting.
Redoute’s Choice led but was clearly headed by Testa Rossa early in the straight before the Rick Hore-Lacy-trained colt lifted himself off the canvas to reclaim victory in the shadows of the post.
Greg Miles’ call captured it perfectly: “Redoute’s digs, he lunges, and wins!”. I’ll never forget it. It was a truly incredible Guineas.
2005 – God’s Own
If you could picture a heavyweight boxer beaten, bloodied and on the canvas facing the nine-count, that was God’s Own in the 2005 Caulfield Guineas.
Trained by the late, great Bart Cummings and in the famous colours of Dato’ Tan Chin Nam, God’s Own was battered from pillar to post before scoring the most unlikely of Guineas wins.
God’s Own copped the backwash early when Primus suffered interference, relegating him to last. But that was the least of his problems. He tracked into the race strongly approaching the home bend before being absolutely hammered by Stratum.
At that point, he was five lengths off Gonski and Paratroopers, who led, and seemingly bereft of momentum. But somehow, he managed to pick himself up off the canvas and recover to snare one of the most remarkable victories you’ll ever see.
2001 – Lonhro
A fantastic era. For some reason I loved Magic Albert, but that’s superfluous to this.
Lonhro would go on to become one of Australia’s most recognisable horses, but on Guineas Day in 2001 he was absolutely friendless in betting, drifting from $4.20 to $7. All the money was for his stablemate, Viscount.
Lonhro settled a mile back and was forced to go via Caulfield Station around the home bend. But he quickly reeled in his rivals and charged away for a devastating win.
Greg Miles again nailed the call: “Occy’s little boy has raced to the lead.”
Lonhro’s Caulfield Guineas win was something else! 🚀 https://t.co/kz5sC4yKtF
— Racing.com (@Racing) April 19, 2024
2012 – All Too Hard
Only eight horses contested the 2012 Caulfield Guineas, but it featured two absolute superstars, including arguably the best juvenile in recent memory.
Two-year-old Triple Crown winner Pierro was sent around a prohibitive $1.22 favourite. He was unbeaten in eight starts and punters thought he was over the line.
However, All Too Hard had other ideas. The son of Casino Prince had shown great talent as a juvenile, but his three runs as a three-year-old leading into the Guineas were just fair, so he was sent out at double figures.
He carried the Patinack Farm colours of Nathan Tinkler that were so prominent at the time.
Pierro was slow to begin but, in typical Gai Waterhouse fashion, rolled forward to take up his usual role on speed. All Too Hard came the widest around the home turn, and while Pierro had a winning break at the 200m, All Too Hard dug deep to nail him in the final 50m.
The form stood up immediately, with All Too Hard and Pierro finishing second and third in the Cox Plate at their next start.
Pierro was unbeaten heading into the 2012 Caulfield Guineas, but then along came @BlackCaviar2006’s little half-brother All Too Hard. https://t.co/2PtUguUnRw
— Racing.com (@Racing) October 5, 2016
2007 – Weekend Hussler
Weekend Hussler only debuted as a three-year-old and went from being beaten in a Sale maiden on August 19 to starting $1.95 favourite in the Caulfield Guineas just four starts later.
And he didn’t just win the Caulfield Guineas – he absolutely belted them. Under regular rider Brad Rawiller, the gelding settled sixth but was travelling so well approaching the home bend that Rawiller just had to let him go. By the time they hit the top of the straight, the race was all but over.
Weekend Hussler dropped back to 1200m at his next start to claim the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
The Caulfield Guineas has always been more than just a stallion-maker. It’s a race that reveals toughness, talent and temperament, qualities that define the greats. From Redoute’s Choice digging in under pressure to God’s Own defying chaos, and Lonhro, All Too Hard and Weekend Hussler announcing themselves as stars, the Guineas consistently delivers moments that stick with you.
It’s a race that shapes reputations, makes memories and reminds us why we fell in love with the sport in the first place.
Oh, and I can’t believe I’ve left Whobegotyou off the list! One of my favourite Caulfield Guineas punting memories! But anyway, that’s how good a race this is.
